How to Invest in Chipotle Stock (CMG)

By Frank Bass – Updated Jun 4, 2025 at 5:37 PM | Fact-checked by Robin Hartill, CFP

Key Points

Chipotle's expansion plans include doubling its restaurant count to 7,000, indicating growth potential.
The company invests in stock repurchases instead of dividends, potentially increasing share value.
Chipotle is consistently profitable, but it doesn't pay a dividend.

For a restaurant designed to be a temporary springboard for a fine dining establishment, Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG +0.75%) isn't doing too badly. The burrito joint has grown from a single Denver space in an old ice cream shop to a fast-casual chain with more than 3,700 restaurants. Read along for more information about investing in Chipotle stock.

NYSE: CMG

Chipotle Mexican Grill

Today's Change

(0.75%) $0.23

Current Price

$31.75

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$42B

Day's Range

$31.34 - $32.06

52wk Range

$31.01 - $66.74

Volume

833

Avg Vol

21M

Gross Margin

22.73%

Dividend Yield

N/A

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How to buy Chipotle stock

1. Open your brokerage app: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments.

2. Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.

3. Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.

4. Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.

5. Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.

6. Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.

Stock

A stock represents an ownership interest in a business. When a business wants to raise money, its board of directors determines the number of shares to issue.

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Does Chipotle pay a dividend?

Chipotle doesn't pay a dividend. Instead, the company puts its money into the business and into share repurchases, which tend to reward investors by increasing the price of a stock. The company announced in its most recent fourth quarter that it would increase its total repurchase authorization from $700 million to $1 billion.

Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)

An exchange-traded fund, or ETF, allows investors to buy many stocks or bonds at once.

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The bottom line on Chipotle

Chipotle has frequently been a victim of its own high expectations. It gets outsized attention when food safety problems occur because of its focus on quality ingredients, and its popularity among white-collar urban and suburban office workers makes it an easy target for satire. The chain's financial performance, however, has been anything but a laughingstock.

The restaurant industry is notoriously susceptible to economic cycles, but Chipotle has been focused enough to weather most storms. Investors interested in adding restaurant stocks could certainly find worse stocks to buy and hold.

FAQ

About the Author

Frank Bass is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst and editor covering energy, healthcare, consumer, and financial sectors. Frank has decades of experience in financial journalism, holding reporting and editing roles at The Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press, and Bloomberg. He also currently edits research on the global energy transition. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Texas Tech University and is a graduate student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Fun Facts: Frank has hiked The Long Trail in Vermont from end to end, and currently lives in a semi-dry cabin in Interior Alaska.

TMFEditFool

John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Frank Bass has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Chipotle Mexican Grill, and Starbucks. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: short June 2025 $55 calls on Chipotle Mexican Grill. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.